Louisville, Kentucky Has One of the Country's Underrated Food Scenes—Here Are the Restaurants I Send Out-of-Towners To

Take it from me: Louisville's best restaurants do not get enough hype. I was born and raised in Hawaii, and I had the privilege of growing up with a variety of cuisines available at virtually any time—fresh seafood often went straight into my mother's frying pan from my father’s fishing pole. As an adult, I’ve been lucky to travel the world and enjoy gourmet meals at some of the world's finest five-star hotels. Access to good food has never been negotiable in my day-to-day life, either. Which is why it may surprise you to learn that I've landed in Louisville, Kentucky, the home of bourbon and the Kentucky Derby, and why it's a place that I consider to be among the top-tier dining destinations in the United States.Over the last decade, I’ve enjoyed hundreds of meals at Louisville restaurants and can confirm that the Derby City dining scene doesn’t disappoint. Below are what I consider to be the very best. They showcase the diversity of Louisville's dining scene, without any of the tropes and tourist traps: There are tasting menu-only eateries serving dishes combining the flavors of the American South and Korea plus hole-in-the-wall spots long popular with locals. Trust me, these eight restaurants represent a range of Louisville’s culinary offerings and are worth a visit during your next trip.610 Magnolia's elegant tasting menu draws from Southern seasonality. 610 MagnoliaSeared scallops on a bed of mushrooms appeared in a recent menu rotation at 610 Magnolia. 610 Magnolia610 Magnolia10 W Magnolia Ave., Old Louisville, Louisville, KYDon’t miss: the optional, five-course wine pairing option to complete your tasting menu feastMake reservations early for a one-of-a-kind, five-course, tasting menu-only experience at this intimate, Old Louisville eatery with a quietly elegant atmosphere. Created by celebrity chef Edward Lee—who is best known for combining Southern cuisine with Korean flavors and techniques—the menu focuses on seasonality, locally sourced produce, and responsibly farmed animals. Every dish on the five-course menu is a delightful surprise, with offerings including everything from bluefin tuna tataki with asparagus, ponzu, sorrel, pomelo, and shiso to duck breast with duck confit, congee, bok choy, kohlrabi kimchi, and a quail egg.Small and medium plates from Decade include carrots with whipped feta and herby salads. TIM FURNISHDecade1076 E Washington St., Butchertown, Louisville, KYDon’t miss: the cast iron focaccia, a crispy yet cloud-like staple from the “snacks” section, baked in an individual cast ironThis neighborhood spot features bold murals, rotating local artwork, and an Italian-forward, New American menu. The team makes gradual changes to each season’s offerings so that, over the course of a month, most of the menu features new dishes showcasing the most seasonal local ingredients. Guests looking to try a few of the mainstays can order the Double Decade Cheeseburger; carrots with whipped feta, zhug, and herb salad; or mushrooms with black garlic sauce, walnuts, and tendrils.The tok-sel lima beans (left) are a must-order at Mayan Cafe, and come on the side of the salmon. Mayan Cafe813 E Market St., NuLu, Louisville, KYDon’t miss: the tok-sel lima beans, which are topped with a blend of roasted, ground pumpkin seeds, lime, salt, and sesame oilFusing locally sourced ingredients with traditional Mayan cooking techniques, the NuLu neighborhood restaurant Mayan Cafe offers an upscale Latin American culinary experience in a warm and relaxed atmosphere. Frequent guests favor the pan-seared salmon served with their cuitlacoche cream sauce. Made with cuitlacoche, a corn fungus prized as a culinary delicacy (most commonly spelled as “huitlacoche”), it features a unique, rich, and earthy flavor. Like a few other entrees on the menu, the salmon comes with the tok-sel lima beans—just leave room for one-of-a-kind desserts.The grape leaf wrapped branzino at MeeshMeesh is blanketed in slivers of almond, turmeric crisp, and preserved lemon. Kento KobayashiMeeshMeesh Mediterranean636 E Market St., NuLu, Louisville, KYDon’t miss: the whipped labneh made with mint, olive oil, za’atar, and garlic confitOwned and operated by James Beard Award finalist Noam Bilitzer, this cozy restaurant features Levantine flavors in a polished yet comfy and informal setting. Reservations are a must to ensure a seat in this cozy space, which specializes in shareable small plates, dips, vegetables, and larger dishes seasoned with bold spices, fresh herbs, tahini, amba, schug, sumac, and lots of veggies.Perso741 East Oak St., Shelby Park, Louisville, KYDon’t miss: the family-style chef’s dinner experience, which features three surprise courses​Boasting a menu that stands in a category of its own, this open-kitchen restaurant features dishes that blend European techniques with the occasional touch of Filipino flavors, and entirely seasonal ingredients. Available picks from the intimate eatery’s ever-evolving menu might include anything from vegan chilled curry carrot soup made with caramelized banana, coconut chili crunch, and mint oil to a pork chop served with corn chowder, hen of the woods, and house-made crème fraîche. Reservations are recommended, though the garden bar, Segreto, is always open on Fridays and Saturdays for walk-ins.A table's worth of goodies from Pizza Lupo includes pizzas, salads, and fried seafood. Pizza LupoPizza Lupo1540 Frankfort Ave., Butchertown, Louisville, KYDon’t miss: Sting Like A Bee, an ode to Louisville’s own Muhammad Ali: this signature pie features pepperoni cups, milled organic San Marzano tomatoes, house hot honey, aged mozzarella, fresh basil, extra virgin olive oil, and Parmigiano ReggianoSet inside a restored 1860s brick building, Pizza Lupo serves authentic Neapolitan-style pies cooked in a wood-fired oven from Italy; regulars say each one is close to what one might find in the land of la dolce vita. In addition to a dozen pizza picks, the menu also features pastas, salads, and a curated selection of natural wine and Italian Amari.Taj Palace2929 Goose Creek Rd., East End, Louisville, KYDon’t miss: the made-in-house garlic naanThis longtime Louisville gem features white tablecloths, wooden chairs, and decorative artwork, creating a comfortable space with a sense of occasion. The menu here promises North Indian classics, such as biryanis and tandooris, all with a rich array of spices like turmeric, coriander, garlic, and ginger. Everything on the menu is prepared from scratch daily, without anything so much as pre-cooked or pre-cut. Customer favorites include chicken and goat dishes, but fish, lamb, and shrimp are also available for choose-your-own-meat-and-sauce dishes.Vietnam Kitchen, an unassuming South Louisville joint, promises hearty soups packed with flavor. GettyVietnam Kitchen5339 Mitscher Ave, Beechmont, Louisville, KYDon’t miss: Spicy rice noodle soup HỦ TIẾU SATÉ, better known as “K8” on the menu—and wrap things up with an avocado shake.With its simple setting in an unassuming South Louisville spot, it’s easy to miss this longtime neighborhood restaurant—but authentic Vietnamese dishes such as egg noodle soup, fermented fish, and Vermicelli noodles have kept customers coming back since 1993. If those options aren’t enough, the menu boasts more than 100 items, including a variety of appetizers, noodle soups, rice dishes, and vegetarian picks.FAQ:Does Louisville have a Michelin-starred restaurant?No, Louisville does not currently have a Michelin-starred restaurant as Michelin does not currently cover the city.